Spartak Dynamo FC

30.4.11
Tymon Bawn 1 Spartak 1

Spartak huffed and puffed their way to a disappointing draw and relied on a 72nd minute og to claim a point.

Tymon took the lead when the Sky Blues betrayed inexcusable laxity by failing to follow the maxim of play to the whisle. With a Tymon player down and calls for the ball to be put out, Spartak switched off. Tymon did not and took full advantage of the hesitation to score. They then had a header off the bar form a corner.

A number of Spartak players looked very short of attacking desire; it is the main weaknesses of the side this year that very few players have been able to find the net: Mick Costello with 5 and Dermot Dooley with 4 are the top scorers with very few players getting more than one goal. The strike force on the day of Ross Kelly and Steve Browne have just 4 goals between them.

In this game that scoring rate could have been remedied and an opportunity to improve the goal total was missed against an uncertain Tymon defence; Spartak had numerous chances but poor approach play, weak shooting and a sheer lack of willingness to make support runs into the box meant that opportunities created were too few.

Spartak had first half claims for a penalty when Steve Walsh was impeded, and a Steve Browne “goal” was somewhat dubiously ruled out. Browne also had an effort off the post.

Spartak only came alive on the hour with the introduction of the substitutes. Keith Kelly hit the post with a fine late effort. The equaliser came after Seamus McCahill had contrived to miss a chance but the full back obliged by poking the ball past his keeper. Earlier Neill Bolger and Seamus McCahill missed from close in with the keeper absent, allowing a full back to get a block.

Improvement will arrive when all the outfield players show more creative and attacking responsibility.

Form Report
Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 5 Martin Costello 5 Keith Kelly 7 Cathal Clancy 5 Seamus McCahill 5 Niall Lennon 4 Steve Browne 4 Steve Walsh 4 Ross Kelly 4 Mick Costello 4.
Subs : Shane McInerney 6 Mick Greene 6 Neill Bolger 6 Ryan Burke Dillon Burke

Drimnagh 5, Spartak 1

Spartak took an injury hit squad to Brickfields and were on the receiving end of a hiding, a great deal of it self inflicted.

Regulars missing, all injured, included Niall Hanratty, Martin Costello, Shane McInerney, Mick Costello, Mick Greene and Dave O’Kelly. So the side was something of a scratch X1, given the number of changes required.

Nonetheless, there is little excuse for such a tepid performance.

Two first half goals from corners, with unmarked efforts from the same player going past guardians at each post, gave Drimnagh an advantage at the interval. Sandwiched between these was Spartak’s goal, a Stu Love header from Dave Browne’s long throw.

Drimnagh, whose reputation for poor behaviour precedes them, were well controlled by a good ref. Spartak on the other hand failed to show sufficient desire to make a real go of it. Drimnagh did not have to overly exert themselves to gain superiority.

Dillon Burke and Dave Browne both struggled for pace against speedy wingers, with Browne partly compensating with some good recovery tackles. Cathal Clancy’s exuberance was curbed by an early booking, and Fintan Grace was left to do an awful lot of defensive tidy up work.

In truth the midfield and attack never got going, nothwithstanding Stuart Love’s appetite for work, with Dermot Dooley also trying to plug gaps. Thom O’Driscoll had an off night, with passing awry, and Niall Lennon could not make any headway. Chris Hogan was off the pace from the start , while Derek McGoldrick had to revert to full back as Burke struggled.

Jason Northey left the fray with an injury early in the second half, having made a few decent stops, but beaten from long range by one effort. Ross Kelly deputised capably.

A renewed effort will be required to compete with Tymon on Saturday.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Dave Browne 5 Dillon Burke 4 Fintan Grace 6 Cathal Clancy 5 Stuart Love 6 Dermot Dooley 5 Chris Hogan 4 Derek McGoldrick 5 Niall Lennon 4 Thom O’Driscoll 4.
Subs : Steve Walsh 5 Ross Kelly 6 Jose Vargas 4 Mick Costello Kevin Mannion Shane McInerney

Spartak 6 , Esker Celtic 0.

With a three goal burst between the 33rd and 39th minutes, Spartak settled this contest early against a sporting Esker side, who did not resort to underhand methods when well beaten.

Showing 5 changes from Sunday’s defeat, Spartak looked fresh and sharp and the defence was untroubled with Steve Grier and Kevin O’Toole in no mood to concede ground.

Fluidity of movement from O’Driscoll, Byrne and Breen caused endless first half trouble to the visitors defence and forced a penalty on 16 minutes, despatched by Keith Kelly. A brilliant turn by Seamus McCahill gave Breen a chance but the keeper saved; McCahill shot over and Ger Byrne, running on to O’Driscoll’s pass , saw his shot blocked.

On 33 minutes a quick Burke throw sent Breen away and Byrne sidefooted home from his cross. An O’Driscoll corner on 35 minutes was headed goalwards by Breen but the ball bounced up off the “mound” and struck the bar; Byrne finished off the rebound.
The fourth was scored by Breen from Grier’s assist.

Graham McEnroe added number five after good work from Byrne , and O’Driscoll’s corner was nodded in by McCahill to complete the scoring.

A satisfactory return to winning ways.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 7 Paul Kinsella 7 Steve Grier 8 Kevin O’Toole 8 Keith Kelly 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Thom O’Driscoll 7 Will O’Connell 7 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 7
Subs: Graham McEnroe 7 Tom Flanagan 5 Anto Doyle 5 Fintan Grace Stuart Love

Colmcilles 3, Spartak 2

A tepid first half display deeply damaged Spartak’ league chances in what was essentially a title decider. Spartak’s 14 game unbeaten run was ended by a sore defeat. The Sky Blues were handicapped when Neil McGowan had to go off after a reckless tackle in the 3rd minute, and Graham Breen came in for some rough house treatment. Nonetheless Spartak did not settle and were outplayed for the first half.

Colmcilles took the lead when Stuart Love was all too easily beaten in the penalty area and the shot beat Peter O’Toole.
Spartak had a couple of efforts, a long range effort from Breen just over and Steve Grier had a fine volley from Dave Browne’s free just wide.
Colmcilles second goal on 30 minutes was highly controversial. A ball reached a clearly offside player via a defelection from Fintan Grace. Most refs would have blown, but not this time, and it was 2-0.

Keith Kelly moved to midfield at the break and with an all action display almost single handedly dragged the Sky Blues back into the game; unfortunately a miscontrolled ball by Fintan Grace gave Colmcilles no.3

Ger Byrne had a chance from Tom Flanagan’s pass, and Glen Burke’s surging run almost yielded results.
When Grier was fouled in the box, Kelly stepped up to score and he repeated the trick when Burke was fouled as Spartak mounted pressure after a dismissal left Colmciles down to ten men. Kelly also had an effort tipped over by the keeper. Unfortunately the numerical advantage did not last long as Dave Browne followed for a second yellow.

Time ran out for the Sky Blues as they finally began to perform.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 8 Fintan Grace 4 Steve Grier 7 Dave Browne 5 Tom Flanagan 4 Neil McGowan 4 Stuart Love 4 Will O Connell 5 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Anto Doyle 4 Glen Burke 7 Seamus McCahill 6 Paul Kinsella Kevin O’Toole Thom O’Driscoll Graham McEnroe

The seniors travelled to Finglas on Saturday believing they had a chance against Griffith Rovers in the semis of the Clifford cup.Unfortunately the game was over after 20 mins as Griffith started with some  smooth passing and some excellent football which seen them bag three in 20 mins.Through no fault of our own Griffith were just way ahead as they had class coming from all areas of the pitch.One linesman commented that they would give most league of Ireland teams a run for there money.Personally I think the league need to have a look at what way these cups are structured but hey that just sounds like sour grapes.Anyway, taking nothing away from our guys to see what we came up against all I can do is commend them for getting so far in this competition.Hats off to ourselves for a good run in this cup and hats off to Griffith Rovers a smashing side and great hosts on the day.

The game finished 6-0 on the day to Griffith…….

Squad: Jimmy Brown (9) Dave Mohan (9) Greg Callan (9) Paul McGrath(9) Tony Kavanagh(9) Matt Grimes (9) Brian Stafford (9) Graham Johnston(9)Ken Byrne(9)Paddy Hughes(9)Gar Harte(9)Andy Byrne(9)Barry Crowe(9)Paul Burke(9) Frank Mcnamee(9) Rory Campbell(9)

16.4.11
Spartak 1 Booth Road Celtic 2

Crucial errors and missed chances were the big features of this semi final tussle. Steve Walsh blazed over early on when put clean through by Dermot Dooley and a first time injury mistake by Niall Hanratty gave the visitors a chance to open the scoring.

Spartak began nervously, with possession lost all too easily in midfield by Shane McInerney and Mick Costello who along with Dermot Dooley in the Sky Blues midfield never got to grips with the match, and were never able to pass with any fluency.Spartak’s substitution options were restricted by injuries with a number of players carrying knocks in the run up. Dave O’Kelly succumbed to a groin injury after 15 minutes and Niall Hanratty struggled until replaced; perhaps neither should have declared fit.

Bobby Hayes made a point blank save to deny Booth and then conceded a free for carrying outside the box.

With the game finely balanced, Hanratty’s error in first half injury time resulted in the lead goal that settled the visitors.

A fine left footed volley by Martin Costello struck the post and then Mick Costello volleyed Steve Browne’s cross over. On 60 minutes possession was lost from Derek McGoldrick’s throw and Booth broke. Cathal Clancy tried to intercept and missed, but fatally Chris Hogan stayed back to play the attack onside. Two nil.
Booth had a player dismissed and caused a fracas on the line as they tried to play out time.
Steve Browne’s free was saved after Dooley was fouled as Spartak tried to get back in the game.
Booth’s had chances when errors by Kevin Mannion and Chris Hogan saw Clancy clear superbly off the line and Booth strike the bar.
Spartak scored, all to late, with a Martin Costello penalty after good work on the right by Browne.

Spartak will reflect on a winnable game which slipped from their grasp.

Form Report :
Robbie Hayes 6 Dave O’Kelly 4 Derek McGoldrick 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Steve Walsh 4 Steve Browne 6 Mick Costello 4
Subs Chris Hogan 4 Kevin Mannion 4 Ross Kelly 4 Mick Greene Dillon Burke Niall Lennon Jose Vargas Adam Doran

12.4.2011
Mourne Celtic 2 Spartak 3

Spartak almost paid dearly for defensive lapses in a game in which they dominated in terms of goal chances. At 2-0 and 3-1 up, errors allowed Mourne back into a game which should have been closed out.
Firstly, poor a lapse of concentration between Steve Grier and Paul Kinsella allowed the speedy local no.9 through to score; then Fintan Grace, tempted to tackle in the box, rashly obliged and conceded a penalty.

With Graham Breen dominant in the aerial battles, Spartak had the attacking edge and when he nodded down Thom O’Driscoll’s corner kick, Neil McGowan swivelled neatly to finish from close range. Glen Burke pounced to prod in the rebound from McGowan’s effort off the bar for number 2. A good half time lead, despite a poor performance.

Spartak’s third arrived when Breen flicke on Steve Grier’s throw and McGowan headed in at the back post.
Ger Byrne missed a great chance close in and Spartak had a goal by Breen disallowed as he finshed off Seamus McCahill’s atempt.

An unnecessarily nervous finish to the game, which should have been wrapped up.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 5 Fintan Grace 5 Steve Grier 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Keith Kelly 6 Neil McGowan 7 Kevin O’Toole 6 Will O’Connell 5 Graham Breen 8 Thom O’Driscoll 6
Subs: Ger Byrne 5 Anto Doyle 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Dave Browne Stuart Love

Hi all just a change of Venue and kick off time for those who are making the journey to Finglas this Saturday to support the senior team.The fixture has now changed from a 12 o clock kick off to a 2 pm kick off and the Venue has now changed to Frank Cooke pk (Tolka Rovers ground) on Griffith ave.

Just a quick note of Best wishes and best of luck to the Seniors for Saturday and also to the Saturday side in their quest for final glory….big weekend for the club so good luck to all those involved in the games from the Seniors managment team.

10.4.2011
Pegasus 2 , Spartak 2

A brilliant goal line clearance by Glen Burke, recovering from his own mistake, saved a point for Spartak with the last kick of an end to end tussle on a very tight pitch at Terenure.

Spartak started the game like the proverbial house on fire, and could have had three before Ger Byrne turned in Seamus McCahill’s cross in the third minute. Keith Kelly hit the bar and then later Byrne had a weak effort when Graham Breen put him though.

At the other end Pegasus gradually found their feet and Burke and Browne were under some pressure, the latter getting booked for a rash challenge. Neil McGowan’s poor marking allowed the No. 9 a free header which he missed from close range. Seamus McCahill was not providing a suitable amount of cover on the right and Pegagus took full advantage. Neither McCahill nor Love could provide any attacking impetus or composed play along the flanks, and with midfield struggling, Spartak were over reliant on long balls and set pieces. Keith Kelly, often in the wars, and Neil McGowan could not gain purchase in central midfield.

A super volleyed attempt by Seamus McCahill at the start of the second half struck the post, but gradually Pegasus began to dominate.
A series of errors began to creep in; Burke headed weakly clear when he could have volleyed, and in the resulting sequence McGowan fouled at the edge of the box. Pegasus struck the post with Peter O’Toole beaten.

The home side equalised when Steve Grier was caught in possession, and then Browne headed the crossfield pass out for a throw. Both centre backs were out of position as a quick throw allowed the No10 to easily turn Burke and cross for a close range tap in.
Pegasus, on the surge, then had a goal disallowed, before Thom O’Driscoll’s corner was touched by Will O’Connell into Breen’s path to give Spartak a 2-1 lead.

All too soon Pegasus were level when Grace was outpaced and the cross turned in despite the close attention of Stuart Love.

The points dropped by both sides will act as a boon to Colmcilles, and both now lose ground in the chase for promotion.

Pegasus, much the more experienced side, have now scored 6 against the Sky Blues in the two games to date and will feel unlucky not to add a second victory, and must now be strong favourites for the Tom Cullen Cup.

From Report: Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 5 Fintan Grace 5 Steve Grier 5 Dave Browne 5 Keith Kelly 5 Neil McGowan 5 Seamus McCahill 5 Stuart Love 5 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Kevin O’Toole 5 Will O’Connell 5 Thom O’Driscoll 6 Niall Tilley Paul Kinsella

4.4.2011
Spartak 2, Drimnagh 4

The visitors foul language and abusive behavior was not dealt with by the ref, who so lost control early, and to the extent that he mistimed the second half and blew up 5 minutes early.

Spartak were somewhat shell shocked to concede two goals in the final minutes of the first half after a battling performance. With Paul Kinsella and Kevin O’Toole forming a barrier at the back, Drimnagh were struggling to impose themselves. An unforunate lapse of marking by Jose Vargas at a corner kick allowed the visitors to snatch the lead, and shortly afterwards a looping shot beat Northey for number 2.

To add further to the problems, and upset any real possibility of a comeback, Shane McInerney conceded a soft penalty before a Paul Kinsella free was nodded in by a Drimnagh player to reduce arrears. Drimnagh again scored, from an offside position to make it 4-1, before Chris Hogan was bundled over in the box and Thom O’Driscoll made no mistake from the spot.

Spartak will need to up the performance levels as the semi final approaches.

Form Report: Jason Northey 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Dillon Burke 5 Paul Kinsella 7 Kevin O’Toole 7 Shane McInerney 6 Mick Costello 6 Kevin Mannion 5 Jose Vargas 5 Ross Kelly 5 Steve Browne 5
Subs: Thom O’Driscoll 6 Steve Walsh 5 Chris Hogan 5